Empower yourself as a thought leader in education with our Ph.D. degree in Cultural Foundations, offering a comprehensive curriculum that prepares you to critically examine, interpret and shape educational policies and practices, driving positive change in the field.
Cultural Foundations - Ph.D.
Contact Us
- Tricia Niesz | tniesz@kent.edu |
330-672-0591
- Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student
Program Information
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Program Description
Full Description
The Ph.D degree in Cultural Foundations explores education through a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives: philosophy of education, history of education, sociology of education, comparative/international education, anthropology of education, gender studies, multicultural studies and religious studies. Students examine the social contexts of education, with particular emphasis on critical questions concerning structural inequalities and considerations of access to education, distribution of educational opportunity and successful navigation of educational systems; normative considerations about the purposes of education; and interpretive understandings of the nature of educational experience and the transformative potential of education.
Students in the doctoral program work closely with faculty to generate dissertation topics that seek to add something new to existing scholarship in their chosen area of study within the field of education.
Graduates have the knowledge, critical understandings and interpretive skills to analyze and assess educational theories, policies and practices, as well as to lead and promote innovative practices in a range of educational settings and social contexts. Recent graduates have embarked on new careers or been promoted in their existing institutions in governmental agencies, K-12 school systems, institutions of higher education and nongovernmental organizations, both nationally and internationally.
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Admissions
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
- Master's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.500 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Goal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- Writing sample
- Interview
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
- Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 DET score
Applicants will be assessed holistically, considering academic credentials, related professional experience, academic or professional references, scholarly activities and professional activities, among others.
Students whose background is not related to the cultural foundations of education may be required to complete a maximum of 9 additional credit hours of foundational coursework. After admission to the program, students plan a program of study with their respective faculty advisory committee headed by their advisor. A midpoint formative review presentation and comprehensive exam are required.
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International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Priority deadline: March 15
- Spring Semester
- Priority deadline: October 15
- Summer Term
- Priority deadline: February 1
Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
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Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Analyze the social, cultural, economic and political conditions that shape education in domestic and international contexts.
- Analyze pressing social issues related to education from a foundational point of view.
- Critically engage a range of theoretical approaches to understanding education.
- Examine dynamics of social differentiation, power and injustice related to education in and out of school.
- Theorize education’s contribution to social justice.
- Develop facility with the range of social science and humanities-oriented research methods and modes of analysis in the field of social foundations of education.
- Conduct independent research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in the field of cultural foundations of education.
- Bring foundational research to bear on the intellectual and organizational aspects of their professions, schools and communities.
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Coursework
On This Page
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Major Requirements CULT 80050 HUMANITIES-ORIENTED RESEARCH IN EDUCATION 3 CULT 80090 DOCTORAL RESIDENCY SEMINAR 3 CULT 89581 PROSEMINAR IN CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS 3 Research, Measurement and Statistics (RMS) doctoral-level electives, as approved by advisor 6 Specialized Research as approved by faculty advisor 3 Major Focus Electives, choose from the following: 30 CULT 70093VARIABLE TOPIC WORKSHOP IN CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS CULT 79510CLASSICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION CULT 79530MULTICULTURAL THEORIES AND SCHOLARSHIP IN EDUCATION CULT 79560CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION CULT 79564HISTORY OF AMERICAN EDUCATION CULT 79569INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION: FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES CULT 79571GLOBALIZATION AND EDUCATION CULT 79575ANTHROPOLOGY AND EDUCATION CULT 80030SOCIAL CONTEXTS OF EDUCATION: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND THEORY CULT 89521MULTICULTURAL EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE AND POLICY CULT 89522ETHICS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE CULT 89571COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CULT 89582SOCIAL THEORIES IN EDUCATION CULT 89591SEMINAR IN CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS CULT 89592ADVANCED PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP IN CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS CULT 89595SPECIAL TOPICS IN CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS CULT 89596INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS CULT 89598RESEARCH IN CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS CULT 89691VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR: GREAT IDEAS IN EDUCATION Other courses, as approved by faculty advisorCulminating Requirement CULT 80199 DISSERTATION I 1 30 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 78 - 1
Upon admission to candidacy each doctoral candidate, must register for CULT 80199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter CULT 80299, each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA - 3.000 - Students whose background is not related to the cultural foundations of education may be required to complete a maximum of 9 additional credit hours of foundational coursework. After admission to the program, students plan a program of study with their respective faculty advisory committee headed by their advisor. A midpoint formative review presentation and comprehensive exam are required.
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Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Delivery:
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Careers
Most of our students are already engaged in satisfying work and plan to use their advanced degree in the Cultural Foundations to open up new opportunities for themselves within their current setting or to move their organizations and institutions in new directions. Others see an advanced degree in the Cultural Foundations as a way of opening up new avenues in their professional lives while contributing also to their communities. In short, our students seek to bring a scholarly orientation to their educational, activist, and entrepreneurial endeavors.